Pirated Barney VS genuine Pipiyo

This week I cleared my last 2 days of childcare leave for the year of 2009... what am I up to lei.... Busy altering clothes for Charlotte! Hahhaha,....

Previous week my mil was asking where I got Charlotte that red flower dress... I said from the stall near her place... she say she wanna buy buy worried I hiam its not branded... I told her as long as the material good, no unfriendly design or material (some embroidery is prickly).... generally I am ok with Charlotte wearing any clothes...

Then after 1 week, my pil appear with 4 sets of dresses with matching panties somemore... The one I got for Charlotte does not come with matching panty... plus it was quite some time back... when Charlotte is still swimming in the tummy.

Among the 4 sets of dresses... got 1 full of flowers one which I posted in earlier blog entry... one of the flower got holes... but I am ok with it... then a set of sailor moon alike set, and one which is light blue with cherry... spaghetti top which is a bit too long and I alter the spaghetti band.

Of all, I like the print of this butterflies dress but I simply hate the look of the barney.... so pirated some more... hahaha.... so aku start to whip the needles, scissors again! Hahahha... I tried to like cut the embroidery line by line but simply too difficult... so I dismantle the top, took off the top layer which has the barney, sew another layer with one of my old clothes as backing... sew the top spaghetti to the front and iron on the pipiyo which I have kept for years! Hahahha

What is Charlotte up to!

Charlotte is busy "eating" her hand lately... Mummy bought her a lot of biting toys to satisfy her "hunger"... hahhaha...

Charlotte just finish her second jab... this time round she din scream so much at the clinic, but she scream after coming back home. I think she is angry...hahhaha she seems to know that she is going for injection that day...perhaps we have been telling her that she is going for injection and see her favorite doc tan a few days earlier. That morning she wake up with a black face and a bit "bui song" all the way.

Doc commented that Charlotte is on the lighter side and suggest that we start her on solid as soon as she hit 4 month... because she is drinking a lot of water and this will make her lighter. Doc say its least allergy to try food from month 4 till month 7... Hmmm.... Doc also say nothing to worry of her "dropping" hair as these are her "ta mao"... doc say no need to shave off.

My helper has been taking down notes on Charlotte sleeping timing, we realize that she nap from 12 to 3pm everyday...hmmm... and short nap in morning and late afternoon. Last Friday we brought her out to Tampines to find a gift for a friend's daughter then return home late afternoon where my in-law came over. Charlotte was excited and din sleep much... That evening she cry and scream non stop for an hour before she finally settled herself and sleep.

Saturday I made her sleep and sleep... had her usual long nap from 12 to 3... That evening we went to a ex col house for boxing day gathering. Charlotte behave herself and din make much fuss... All my ex col commented that Charlotte is a sweet gal... I told them, it because u gals din see the ugly side of her...hahhaha...

So we now learn the trick... want a sweet Charlotte? Make sure she has her nap and she will be sweet and nice! Kekekeke... When she is awake she needs to be entertained. Nowadays she watch cartoon or just simply play her hands and biting toys.

On Xmas eve, we had a house gathering at ah ching place and ws and james took a lot of photos... my favorite is this! Charlotte side profile again! Yes! Dun know why... I like photo of my gal side profile....hahhaha...

Can someone tell me why there are so many RULES and REGULATIONS in SG

We are just some pitiful people who stay in match box houses ... and all we ask for is easy system to make daily life more "enjoyable". Ever since we own our new place, then I know there are many things u have to keep 1 eye shut!

First is a housee with defects that never get clear despite several submission of defect list... I am just so sick of contacting the stupid HDB, the contractor who promise to return my spare key never did. Heng we gave him pad lock key.

Next we realized there is lines on the ceiling that look like water leakage... ok... close 1 eye... and of all the ceiling, 1 small ceiling in the master bedroom was not plaster properly... ok close 1 eye... then out of nowhere, one fine day when I was clearing the rubbish at the rubbish chute, I saw a crack on the exterior wall just below my unit... Woh so dangerous to see... best if close 1 eye... then lately they send a survey form... my chance to shoot them...but I doubt they will do anything to it.

In the survey form, they ask a question on naming of the place. They ask if a name as such would give more prestige to the place. Of course I say YES... but I dun think by having a nice name make your living place more atas. Why I say so... cos our car park is the most special one in Punggol, I think sooner will see more of car park like this.

There are over 300 units yet they build a stupid car park that can only park like 250 cars. Below the car park they have a 24 hours coffee shop and your friendly sing song supermarket... SO they expect u to walk here and buy ur barang barang and use a trolley to push home... no OUTSIDE car allow... why I say so... cos this stupid car park is chargeable all day long and all week long, it operate 24 by 7... even on Sunday and PH... ok that's still not the worse.

All the lot are painted white... but there is a red sign board that says SEASON PARKING ONLY AFTER 10.30PM. Damm if u come and visit me u cannot stay over 10.30pm.. cos your car will ganna summon... Just before we realize this stupid season parking thing, we ganna one summon of 50 bucks even though we tear a overnight parking coupon.

I manage to get this summon waived and I ask them what if I have family and friends who wants to come stay over 10.30pm or overnight. Their "friendly" reply was, please stick to our rules and regulation. Please advise your friends and family to park at a nearby car park.

Then I just bought a season parking for my vehicle... as advise by the super "friendly" poster at the HDB, please choose GIRO so that cut down waiting and q system. So the obedient me do so loh... just 2 days ago... I received a call from HDB informing that my giro application is rejected because I am not the owner of the car. And the season parking is given to priority for home owner of the place. Then I ask, what shall I do, they gave me a "friendly" advise!, PARK UR CAR ELSEWHERE.
Then I write an email to appeal. I ask if they are expecting me to park my vehicle else where and walk home just because I am not the owner of the vehicle and doesn't the home owner be given priority? I plead them please take into consideration that I have a young kid and I dun want to weather the storm and rain.

Today I received their reply... I was surprised why they reply so fast... Cos they just copy and paste their priority q system and stuff... end of the message is still I am not the car owner so they cannot sell me the giro thingy... and best of all, they advise me to CHANGE NAME for the vehicle to get the priority q for the season parking and giro!

Wat a joke of the day. Would u do a name change just because U need their F**King car park lot? I m just so fed up with this stupid system. We are just staying at some highly govt subside flat and need not set such atas rules for our area. I rather they just simply brand us as NORMAL de HDB flat.

Sotong Wannabe

Still remember the green sotong that Charlotte likes... We conclude that she might probably like the red mouth rather than the whole sotong itself.

I have the bunny (where u can insert your finger into to move and make funny movement)... I cant rem this is pass on by who...kekek... We have a lot of passing on toys... I play this bunny to Charlotte, making funny sound and action but she wasn't interested at all... continue crying and shouting..
I decided to do a trial... that is to add a red mouth onto this bunny... initially I sew the nose red... and a red line on the 2 curves.... realize that it does not look like the lip on the sotong... I expand the lip to a big mouth. But with the mouth and the nose both scary red... the "bunny" does look a bit scary...kekek... I remove the red nose and keep it black...

I decided that in cartoon like bug bunny, their ears have a inner color... so since Charlotte like red so much... I add on 2 lines of red onto the ear...

The end result??? I dun know to call this bunny or bear... cos bunny doesn't have a big mouth... but bear doesn't have long ears too...

Hmm.... but I guess as long as Charlotte likes it... it doesn't matter what this "thing" is call... I know the next thing u will ask is her reaction...

Initially she wasn't interested... perhaps she wasn't in a good mood when I show this to her... yes, this gal of mine does have frequent mood swing... kekek...

Slowly I try to entertain her with this "thing" she does react a bit by looking at it... but ultimately I think still the green sotong win.

Morale of the story? A fake can never win the real stuff! Kekekeke

Kanna Chop Carrot at the swimming place

Has always wanted to let Charlotte try swimming. Initially wanted to try when she is about 8 weeks old but she was down with fever then and dare not try. So waited until she is 3 months old.
We brought her to the "famous" swimming place at Harbourfront as I wanted to exchange some clothes from Mothercare (from the huggies diaper promotion). This "famous" swimming place used to have an outlet at punggol and recently shifted to yishun with a bigger space and bigger pool.
I check online for similar swimming place and none.. only this "famous" swimming place for baby... I saw somewhere the 1st time trial is $28.

When we reach the place, we were greeted by an auntie who seems like the matron of nurse in her pink uniform. I ask her how much would it be since it is our 1st trial. She took over Charlotte and massage her for warm up and keep telling me, U try 1st and see see...

Then she proceed very fast asking us for water to feed her, massage her, took off her clothes and diaper, put on the ring... there she is in the pool already. Charlotte was initially shouting (not crying) then the auntie sing song to her and she calm down. Before long, she enjoy the water and kicking happily.

The auntie say for 1st timer, Charlotte is doing well and should not soak too long. She remove her from the water and start to massage her. Then ask us to make milk for feeding. As we dressed her up and my helper feeding Charlotte, these group of china sales woman (I m not being racist, its just their attitude) sharpen their knife liao.

They sell us a package of over 200 bucks for 10 sessions. They say per swimming session for ad-hoc is 30 bucks.. so more worth to take a package... Then I refuse to sign the package. They change attitude and say, in that case they will have to charge me for $30 plus $22 for massage... but we din ask for massage! The matron of nurse say "I thought u guys will sign package then the massage for today is free"... But we din say we want package in the 1st place... moreover I keep asking how much and she refuse to say and proceed us very fast into the whole thing...

In the end, Nick argue to them that we din ask for the massage. The cashier, a nasty china lady say she will compromised by charging us half price for the massage... Nick din want to give in, but I am totally turn off by their attitude. I gave in and paid and we left.
Just as we are leaving, we saw another couple, Chinese woman, ang mo husband being quickly move into the same process... another carrot being cut!

Another note to this was, I realize they did not drain off the water entirely... I saw in forum commenting that these places did not sterilized or clean their pool regularly... I decided to get a private pool for Charlotte. Just order 1 online and cost $65...the pool can use till 2 years old. I should have gotten it earlier...

We do get something out of this experience... which is how to get Charlotte to play in the pool and some warming up before throwing her into the water....kekekke.

Baby Einstein Toys

I got this Baby Einstein take along present for Charlotte's full month celebration from my ex colleague. I find this quite useful as I do not need to puck power supply to produce music... kekeke .... I am a lazy mummy... I tried playing music to Charlotte on speaker a few times but most of the time I am lazy to set up the speaker and stuffs.

As Charlotte grow, I noticed that she like toys with music. I got a mobile cot hanger but the music has only 1 song... she dislike it... cant get her attention for more than a minute. Due to her allergy, I keep that toy away as it has fluffy hanging toy. I got her another one which is made of plastic toys and lots of different music... Can at least entertain her for like 10 minute. But she soon lose interest... now the toy is use to distract her during changing and feeding at home.

Recently I noticed that her nanny (aks helper maid) carry her and walk around when she is awake and crying for attention... Her nanny would sometimes make funny noise and sound to entertain her, but Charlotte would CALL the minute she is left alone.

Decided to rent toys to keep her entertained. All along I wanted to buy the automatic rocker from fisherprice. I could not find a good price for the 2nd hand item. Din want to get a brand new one as I find it too costly. Charlotte has the manually rocker which cost like 30 bucks, the old fashioned kind. She used to love rocking (me as the manual rocker) in it. Sometimes I m just too tired to rock. When her nanny came, I guess the nanny can easily take over the role of rocking...kekeke So I decided to rent a play gym for Charlotte.

 
The 1st rented toy I got was the Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym. I choose the Baby Einstein one because it has a machine that play music non stop...kekeke... there are lots of sea creatures that come along with it... But Charlotte only like that sotong.


We suspect Charlotte like the sotong because of the smiling face. The sotong as a red smile. The sotong is unable to produce any music... only sound from the rattle that is attached to one of its feet. I wonder if Charlotte would missed her sotong as the sotong is due to return "home" end of this month.... kekek

 So my quest to search for a similar sotong begin... not long... I saw this similar sotong at metro. Its has the same face. Only different? the body is blue... hahhaha... I realized this sotong is from the same maker, Baby Einstein. This sotong is much bigger in size and the legs give out sound when pressed. I din buy this sotong immediately... because the green sotong haven go home yet... plus by then Charlotte might not like the sotong anymore.

The manual rocker that I mentioned earlier is now everyday empty... cos she dun like the rocker anymore... maybe because its no longer comfy? Not sure... Initially I wanted to rent the fisherprice automatic rocker when Green sotong goes home... But I change my mind now...

Charlotte next rented toy would be a jumper for infant... She wake up more now and constantly required entertainment. Hope that the jumper can keep her entertained longer...kekeke...
Charlotte is changing her pattern very fast... I wonder what's next...hahhahah

Preparing to return to battle field

Just as I am starting to enjoy staying at home to shake legs, my maternity leave is ending soon... *sob sob....

To prepare for returning to work... I keep thinking (want to) digging out my working clothes and see I need some more stuff... But I am simply too lazy...hahha.... hate to know that holiday is ending soon...
The house is 99% done with the book shelves and bedroom side cabinet in. We got the items from ikea and easily 500 buck burst...kekke... we lug the items back on our own on trolley...and fixed till 2am....kekke... I was telling Nick that this house is really use sweat and lots of running up and down to get done one. Since we started shifting, we are like lugging items bags by bags. Our car has also faithfully serve us well... kekek... there are times we packed the car like no space left...kekeke...

I think Nick more siong cos he has been lugging items since we start preparing for Charlotte's arrival. Cot, mattress, baby items... then for reno, then for fixing up the house..kekek... At least I can help for the fixing up house... sometimes both of us felt like super man and super woman with a few bags in our hands.

We did our mass housewarming for Nick's family and relatives last Sunday. We did a few small one for friends. The one for Nick's family and relatives is a much bigger scale. about 30 pax. I cook and many are surprise... though not a very tasty one cos its my 1st time managing such a big scale, but lots of experience gained. Its quite tedious to DIY for such a big session, esp with the lugging of items from NTUC and gaint! But its quite satisfying as you can choose what you want to serve and portion. Though the comments wasn't good...but who cares... :P
Here's the menu:

Just for KidsTuna/ Egg Sandwiches - Self mix with japanese mayo
AppetizersFried hotdog - cut into flower shap
Sotong Ball - shrink when cold..kekeke
Fried Chicken Wing - fried with Kentucky mix
MainFried Bee Hoon - order from the coffee shop near my house, not very tasty
Chicken Curry - made from A1 curry sauce but add too much water, got ppl comment say its curry soup
Stiry fry mixed veg - Fail big time, the califlower turn yellow and cabbage is too dead after left to cool...next time just steam Brocoli and cook mix vegetarian veg which is dark in colour
Roast Duck - Sponsor by Nick's father
Prawns - Sponsor by Nick's father, fried with garlic and butter
DessertsSaralee Pound Cake - 4 boxes all finished ... kekeke mostly by the kids
Ice Cream
Canned Mixed fruits with peach - most perfect with the mix served in cheap salad bowl ($3.50) from ikea

The house warming session ended with cleaning up... not as bad as I expected... we have a lots of children and mostly are quite big... they are happy with playing in the study room and cutting paper and drawing... kekek... only a little boy drew on the wall.. manage to clean off with soap... highly recommended, washable paint...kekkeke

The kids have fun with the pound cake... a highly recommended for housewarming with kids...
Charlotte and Cousins
 

Children pillow fight... the study room instantly turn into a play ground! Kekekke

The play
The children are very creative... see the stage being set up with the straw paper? I watch the rehearsal version... after that they have the actual run and lastly they even have rating sheet where they draw 5 stars for you to color (to give rating)....dun underestimate the kids nowadays!


Sushi making in process
The girls ask Nick for the blanket and roll up one of the gals and start the sushi making! Hahhahah
The next big session will be for Nick's classmate in Jan. For that its no problem cos its a small group like 15 which I have managed before for friends gathering. Plus I am doing Ang Mo food for this group, which is much easier to manage.
 

Lately, I start to stock up stuffs that Charlotte needs. Recently saw some diaper sales in Cold Storage... did some price comparison. I realize that different cold storage have different price tag too! Difference can be as high as 1 buck. We tried Mummy Poko, Huggies Ultra (highly recommended by joey), Huggies Dry (free gift from a ex col), Dryer (sample). My verdict is, Huggies Ultra is the best for overnight, Mummy poko is good when bb poo poo. Huggies dry is the worse, keep leaking. Dyper caused nappy rash.


Since cold storage is having Huggies ultra sale, I quickly stock up M size. Then I saw on Huggies website that the barcode can be used to exchange for toy... hahha... Quickly grab enough packets to exchange for the toy!

Time fly...

How to make time pass slower... maybe because I start to feel time is running out... as in no more eng eng everyday at home surf net liao... kaoz... have to go back to battle field soon... why time pass so fast... I haven have enough rest lei... maybe I am not resting enough...


I am that sort who wake up jiu very hard to fall back to sleep... I dun have the habit of afternoon nap as well... so everyday I would be either online or go market buy stuffs... and lately this week... I am busy with my vinyl plant! kekekek... Nick is engrossed in his planting project as in real plant... but seems like his current batch of plant going to mati liao... Whereas mine is ever blooming...kekeke... Took me about 2 days to finish this... I finish the end product at 2am on Tuesday... Nick ask me.. "U not tired?" I say No lei... then he say "But ask u feeding milk at night tired hor?" Me..."Hee hee"

Charlotte now sleep as early as 8.30pm and would wake up for her night feed at about 3am. I am quite tune to this timing and morning cant sleep late as well cos we have already get used to the routine for Nick to send me, BB and maid to my parents house on his way to work.
Monday me brought Charlotte to go for her 1st vaccine... saw many newborns there... seems like yesterday... my small baby gal has now becoming more and more han bao bao... Today mark her 3 months old and now she can lift her head not quite steady yet but doing good...


We have been training her on tummy time and usually she is very lazy to lift her head even with our assistance... on one Saturday evening she lift her head for quite long and the whole family was yelling in surprise! Actually only me yelling lar...kekekke... faster took some photo with the hp.   
 
 

Now she can sit up with assistance and its kind of fun to see her sit like a "bu dao wong" cos her head will be shaking and wobbling... :P She is getting more and more active... in order to entertain her, I rented a play gym for her but she only like this sotong... perhaps some parents will try to only speak English or Chinese to their baby... but me always speak rojak to her.. sometimes teochew mix ang mo mix Chinese..kekkeke... mix malay too...like sotong! I din realize sotong is a malay word until my maid say they also call this sotong! Kekekek...

Got once my bro ask me, what exactly u wanna teach her? Why u speak so rojak to her? hmmm.... I think its ok ba... seriously I would like her to pick up teochew if she is able to... but no hurry also... now she like to make sound and we would mimic her...hahhaha... become lao baby liao...kekeke
She is growing and changing very fast as the days goes... I wonder would I be missing out a lot when I return to work... hmmm... 

Expensive Dental in SG with Alamak Patient

I was looking for a cheap and good dental service. My coming to 1 month maid has a swollen gum and suspect its wisdom tooth... siao liao loh.... Singapore dental is damm expensive...
My very "gao" brother ask me to call the agency to "question" them why they bo check the maid dental health before sending her... ?!?!!!?/?? .. I ask my brother, they got medical check up lar... but where got check dental one... he say "Just Push the blame to them"... ?!!!?!. I wonder what has SG education system done to these younger generation.... its like so "unreasonable"... I told my bro... u know what... when u push the blame to the agency, the agency will push the blame to the maid... end up the maid will suffer, then not happy, then how to work for u? but youngster of their age dun think so far one... they just want quick solution.

I was searching online for cheap dental but all cost a bomb... average about 50 to 80 buck for just cleaning services. I call up polyclinic... to my shocking surprise, non citizen like maid , the basic cleaning cost 80 buck!!!! faint!!! more x than pte clinic loh...

I am still looking for a cheap and good one... not only for the maid, but also for myself... any recommendation?... I got a good and cheap one in amk but damm long q...

Just as I was searching online, I saw this blog of a dentist... he is damm funny... he share about his experience of Alamak Patient... got ANG MO alamak somemore...kekeke
http://www.hougangdental.com/articles/alamak.htm

Extracts of some of my fav!
Case 2 :
Dentist: Have you ever been seriously ill or hospitalised?
AP: Aiyoh, I come here to pull teeth only you ask this kind of question.
Dentist: I need to take your medical history.
AP: Pull teeth only ask so much for what?

Case 6 :
Dentist: Your dentures should be ready after 2 more visits. Please wait outside to make payment and get your next appointment.
(Alamak patient walks off without paying or making appointment. Turns up one month later asking for denture)
Dentist: Your dentures could have been ready by now, but you did not turn up for the other 2 appointments. We were going to give you the appointment dates, but you left.
AP: But I stay uptairs only what.
Dentist: ????
AP: So when can my denture be ready?
Dentist: After today's visit, there will be one more visit.
AP: When is that?
Dentist: One weeks' time. Please wait outside to make payment and get the exact date and time.
(AP disappears without paying. A few days later, AP sees dentist at a public place)
AP (shouting loud enough to make heads turn): Ei, where is my denture? Why so long huh?
Dentist: ???!!!

Case 7 :
AP: Ei, that day you pulled out a tooth for me hor, you broke something inside ley.
Dentist: There's nothing broken inside.
AP: Who say nothing. I touch the hole got one sharp sharp thing.
Dentist: That's your bone. Leave it alone and your gums will grow over it. Keep touching it and it may get infected.
AP: Where got bone? This one must be broken tooth lah.
Dentist: If you insist that it is a broken tooth, then I can't help you.
AP: What you can't help? You must take out broken tooth for free ley. If not I complain to ministry then you know.
Dentist: I can refer you to a specialist if you want a second opinion.
AP: Free or not?
Dentist: No, you'll have to pay the specialist.
AP: How come? You broken the tooth I still must pay ah?
Dentist: ???!!!

Case 9 :
Dentist: The surgery is done. Bite on the gauze till the bleeding stops, don't smoke, don't drink ...
AP: Thanks for telling me all that. Really appreciate it, but I'm sorry I'm not going to follow your instructions. I just have to smoke and drink.
Being alamak is not restricted to locals. The trying-to-be-a-cool dude who said all that (and refused to take his 5 days' MC) is an ang moh alamak.

Case 10 :
AP: Do you sell bleaching gel?
Dentist: We provide a tooth bleaching service.
AP: Can't you just let me take the gel home and do it myself?
Dentist: You need bleaching trays for safety and for greater effectiveness.
AP: Come on, I can handle it. Just sell me the gel.
Dentist: We can't just sell you the gel without constructing the trays for you.
AP: But I don't need them.
Dentist: Yes, you do.
AP: I just want the gel.
Dentist: We don't sell it.
This is another trying-to-be-smart ang moh alamak.

Case 13 :
Alamak Patient: My maid just extracted one tooth last week. Now she say pain again.
Dentist extracts another carious tooth for maid.
AP: How come must pay again?
Dentist: Another tooth was extracted.
AP: That means last week you pulled out wrong tooth lah. Why must pay? Why this time not free? Wah, last week paid so much, this week still must pay.
Dentist: ??!!

Case 14 :
AP caller: Hello, what time you all close tonight huh?
Recep: 9.00pm
AP caller: OK, I want to come at 9.00pm
Recep: I'm sorry, we're closed at 9.00pm
AP caller: That means I come at 9.00pm you all finished with all other patients already so I don't have to wait right?
Recep: ??!!

Case 15 :
AP: Can I see now?
Recep: I'm sorry, we have a patient coming any minute now.
AP: I got appointment what.
Recep: Yes, but your appointment was 9.00am. It's 4.00pm now.
AP: I was busy this morning what. Come now also must wait ah?
Recep: I'm sorry, our 4 o'clock patient has just arrived.
AP: OK, I go off now. When I come back make sure you see me immediately.
Recep: That's provided we can finish this case when you come back.
AP: I don't care!
Recep: ??!!

Case 23 :
Dentist: Mr Ang, the filling I place on your tooth after root canal treatment is just temporary. As there's not much of your tooth left, you need to do a crown over the tooth if you want it to function normally.
AP: OK, OK, I sure do one. Don't worry.
3 months later ...
AP: £%&*^! That filling you did for me dropped out already. Why so lousy?
Dentist: Mr Ang, as you may recall ...
AP: Can't even trust you with $50 thing expect me to trust you with $500 thing.
Dentist: ???!!!

Learning to let go

I was looking at my gal's photo from birth till now... she really look meaty now... from the dark skinny baby to now fair fair and chubby! Not really very chubby thou... maybe because of her allergy issue, she wasn't drinking well for the past one week. I tried to find and try many home remedy for her blocked nose and allergy issue... so far I think we are dealing it well.

As she grow everyday, her pattern also keep changing... now she no longer like to sleep on our chest at night anymore... she dun like to be cradle, she like to be hold upright when carry. hmm... I miss the time she sleep on my chest soundly... Now she also demand more... she used to be "easily satisfied" but now she needs more different entertainment and even feeding style changed! She like to drink milk lying on her pillow... dislike being carried... But other than that, she wants more bao bao and rocking and shaking...I mean human body and not rocker... she dislike her rocker now too...

Now her mummy and her nanny aks helper become the "ren rou" shaker cum rocker. Cant help but feel that she change too fast...  She dun seem to be so cherry anymore... maybe mummy lose the touch of how to make her smile.

My helper is with me for less than 2 weeks... she and Charlotte is bonding well and in fact very "bonded" liao... cant help but feel jealous. In order to train my helper, I would leave home for at least 3 to 4 hours everyday... ask me where I go?  Lot of places to go one... hahah... my favourite is market and compasspoint loh...nearby so can wear lok kok, lok kok go out...

During day time, my helper will take care of Charlotte, I do take over at times, but I try not too, cos I will be going back to work really soon. In the evening when we get home, we will take care of Charlotte on our own. We do the night feeding ourselves as well. Charlotte sleep with us in the room.
Last evening, Charlotte is throwing her temper again on her rocker. My helper came over and talk "baby language" to her... Guess what! My gal reply in her "baby language" and smile... My heart dropped! Cant help but feel a bit sad... On the other hand, at least I know my helper know my gal pattern and can take care of her.

Parenting is really not an easy task. During preggy, all the MS and discomfort seems to be unbearable... During labour, everything sound so scary and stuff... Under comparison... parenting is even more taxing... The day Charlotte is out till now, I already forget how it is like to have straight 8 hours of sleep. Kekekekke....

I guess as 1st time mummy, a lot of things I am unsure too... Glad that there is this thing call internet and forum... learn a lot about baby stuff. Esp when baby is feeling unwell, really at wit end... Got worried when she seems to be not drinking enough... then share by formers that some of their babies are like that too! At least more assuring. Still a lot to learn as the journey has just started! Charlotte is going for her 5 in 1 jab following Monday. Due to the fever saga last month, I am more confident in handling any jab fever... *finger cross...

Busy busy...

These few weeks I am damm busy... no time for taking photos of Charlotte and blogging. Charlotte fallen sick in week 7. She got fever and it shoot as high as 38.3 when I brought her to a near by Pediatric clinic. The Doc Zainal ask me to bring Charlotte to the nearest polyclinic, sengkang for a blood test.

The stupid polyclinic is full of people. I requested for a piority q for blood test as instructed by the clinic nurse. There is a tomboy at the clinic who is damm ya ya and tell me no priority Q. Damm her! or he?!? I am already very stress and she/he chu pattern. I went over to another counter to ask for the priority q. The counter lady tell me must see the polyclinic doc then can get priority Q. What kind of system is this... only their own patient can get priority q? In the end I went back to the blood test place to explain my case to the receptionist. I do have a letter from the baby doc which is consider private doc. The receptionist is very nice to let Charlotte go 1st.

I was feeding Charlotte her milk when the nurse prick her little feet. She did not cry or feel any pain... Waited for about 45 min and bring the result back to the baby clinic. The baby clinic doc say she might be virus attack but not sure what virus.

Her fever go on and off... I keep sponging her and that evening I got a little worried and call the KKH hotline to make inquiry. The nurse say we must check her urine if her fever dun go off the next day. To check for UTI, that night Charlotte sleep beside me and I wasn't fully asleep. Her fever goes off the next day and I din check her urine.

For the next few days she seem ok. But 1 week later, she get very cranky and I thought she is just attention seeking. Until my father sense that something is not right as she was crying non stop. Bring her back to the Pediatric clinic. The Doc Zainal say she has blocked nose. Give some allergy medicine and nose drop.

After 5 days, she still seems to have blocked nose and its affecting her feeding. I have been using Vick and I think cannot be long term also...decided to bring her to another doc to seek a second opinion. The doc is Doc Vanessa Tan from Kidslink. She say Charlotte is not sick. She is having allergy. I ask if she will outgrown it. Doc Vanessa Tan say Charlotte might be less sensitive when she gets bigger, for now we can only accept that this is considered normal. The only thing we can do is to keep the house clean. Doc Vanessa also commented that Charlotte should not take the allergy medicine from Doc Zainal cos its too strong for her age...

Following the doc visit, the next few days is Spring Cleaning of my parents place. Luckily my help came on that weekend so she help to clean up the dirty place... I begin to throw away a lot of stuffs. When WS was at my new place, she laugh at me for keep so many "old" stuffs... now because of Charlotte, I am throwing away all the unwanted and most important, those "dust collector" stuffs. After the clean up, Charlotte seems better now. I am also more relax and my helper is around to help take care of Charlotte, I got more time to myself.

In order to train my helper to be ready to take over in taking care of Charlotte, I left my parents home a few hours daily to let her take care of Charlotte on her own. So far she is managing well... * finger cross... kekekke..

I do realise that there are pro and cons...when I am taking care of Charlotte 100%, sometimes I get too stress out and dun even enjoy the time with her. Now I m more gentle towards her maybe because I dun face her 24 by 7. However I still take the effort to take care of her from evening till the next morning. That's the precious time for bonding though night feeding can be tiring.

I haven manage to get a full night rest since the day Charlotte come home. I guess every moms goes through this. Now she is more alert and know how to smile and make funny expression. She also seems to be able to recognize faces. I sometimes do get "jealous" when I see how my helper bond with Charlotte. But I guess this is the phrase I have to get through. I got to get ready to return to work soon.

Now I understand why even with 16 weeks ML, still some women are not interested in child bearing. Because the 16 weeks of leave is really not enjoyment time. Its really 100% full attention on the young one. Even though my new place is ready, I dun seem to have the time to "enjoy" the house..kekeke... maybe when my helper is more ready to take care of Charlotte then I can enjoy the house...kekek... but whenever I am free, I would want to take care of Charlotte on my own.

Nick and my arrangement with the helper is when we are at home during weekends, she will do house work and we will take care of Charlotte on our own. During evening time when we get home from my parents place, We would take care of Charlotte on our own too. Though it is tiring esp once I go back to work. But we feel that we need to allocate sometime for Charlotte.

Today my helper notice some yellow discharge from Charlotte nose. According to the flyer Doc Vanessa gave, if the discharge got color like yellow or green then its flu, a flu will take about 7 days to recover. If the discharge is colorless then its allergy. Now I am confuse. The only thing we can do now is keep monitoring. Parenthood is really not an easy path.

I am back!

Long time din update my blog... though I am on long long leave... but child caring took up 100% of my time...hahhaa... the amount of blog entry tell all...kekeke...

As I am taking care of her myself... my time at home is really 100% on her.... of course I steal time to online everyday. When I need to go out shopping of course she will be with me also... Hahahha... its just like when she is in my tummy, following me wherever I go... the only different is... I have to prepare nappy bag, watch out for timing for her feeding...kekekke...

Some quick updates... our place is going to be completed soon... we often run out to buy new things for our new place... of course little charlotte has to follow... she has been to many places by now! Kekekeke

This is little charlotte in her car seat among all the furniture while we shop for some loose furniture at a furniture shop full of display items and damm messy... hahhaha

Yesterday we brought her to ikea... fully clothed... cos ikea damm cold... dress her as if going winter place...kekekke... 2 layers of top!... she seems to enjoy the aircon...cos she was sleeping throughout... even when drinking milk!
Sometimes I bring her out on my own while daddy is at work... I brought her to takashimaya this week... its kinda funny feeling when I was eating my pack-away japanese noodle at the water fountain with little charlotte in her stroller facing me...hahha... she become my shopping companion...kekeke... I din bring a camera to take this scene...

The days when we are at home, time is spend on feeding, changing diaper, bathing and of course entertaining her when she refuse to sleep... with eyes bright bright! Will try all sort of method to coax her to sleep... like example on fours... only with supervision.. Or make her sleep on our bed... she likes it... I think she like the smell.... I heard from my massage lady that baby like to sleep on our bed because the bed has our "wei dao"...if she refuse to sleep and keep crying... this is my "fa bao".... on ME!

Every night near bedtime... we have to spend some time to coax her too... daddy will try the same method......

But.... it does not work all the time.... cos "sea horse" mattress where got "water bed" nice... so cheeky daddy sometimes do this...make fun of charlotte by putting soft toy on her ...sometimes daddy put all the soft toy around her... his theory is accompany charlotte loh..... then end up mummy have to do the job of putting back the soft toy and coax little charlotte to slumberland...

Though there are times that I can get quite irritated by her cries... but most of the time... I can't help but love the innocent look of my little sweetie... and she smell good! Kekeke.. I hope I am not addicted to her baby smell...kekekeke....

NJ 2nd Wedding Anniversary with Baby Charlotte

We have been talking about our 2nd wedding anniversary a couple of months ago.. I told Nick no present for him cos baby is the best present (pointing at my tummy then). He say he also no present for me cos baby is the best present (his contribution of baby making) :P

I have wanting to get him a wallet through his cousin who is flying to UK 2 weeks ago but I drop the idea cos I thought a hp would make a more practical present as we both badly wanted to change our hp...hahha.. so we strike a deal to change hp in Dec when our contract ended. I have been talking about PUSH gift too! Hahha... Nick got his cousin to help him bought a Longchamp Le-Pliage bag (dark purple) from UK. He say this is the PUSH gift, this bag suppose to be a diaper bag... Hahaha...

Today is our 2nd wedding anniversary. We din go out cos I am doing confinement... but during this period of confinement... I din really confined at home..kekek... went out a few times... or I should say many times... but all for short while.

Today Nick is overseeing the reno of our new place... with constant sms update...hahha... We had our "mini" celebration last nite with Nick's planning... He is cheeky.. he has gotten a present and a bottle of white wine hidden at home. At 10.00 plus he whip out a present and its a pair of earrings from Soo Kee together with a wine glass and the bottle of white wine. Hahaha... Its a nice surprise though I cant really drink.. I took a few slip.

Just as I was looking at the earrings in the soo kee box, he whip out another box, a dark black box with the word "Brilliant Rose"...hehehe..that is the real present. The earrings is a free gift that comes with the "real present". Its a Brilliant Rose diamond pendant. Its a matching one with my Brilliant Rose earrings which he has given me a couple of years ago. He say now he has given me the full set of 4 dian zhuan...hahha... He say this is anniversary cum PUSH gift present... kekekke

I am happy with this mini celebration and my surprise present! I din prepare anything for Nick. He say I have already given him the best present... in his arm... baby Charlotte.

A DIY card for charlotte's Daddy :)

Little NJ is here!

21 Aug 2009 - No sign of Little NJ... Went to HK cafe for lunch with my colleagues and we pass by Seoul Garden. Long time din eat Seoul Garden liao... then we decided to have it on Monday. Cos Friday one of my colleague cannot eat meat.

22- 23 Aug 2009 - No Sign of Little NJ. We have been hoping she come out on 22 Aug so that 1 month later she can celebrate her full month with our wedding anniversary.We have been talking to her a lot... but no sign... hahha...Nick say she bluffed us loh... dun trust her liao...kekeke... A part of me feel that she "overheard" the Seoul Garden date so refuse to come out...

24 Aug 2009 - We went to eat Seoul garden. Had like 1 head of cow with a colleague of mine... eat until we are all so damm smelly and damm full. Evening time I tell little NJ, after Seoul Garden, no more good food liao... its come to out out drink milk.... That evening I had mee suan... damm plain...

25 Aug 2009 - Went for an event in Intercontinental hotel. Usually we have quite good spread at the hotel. But this time round cut budget so the food is erm... not as good... and not really appetizing. That evening, Nick bought me some mua chee and tea leave egg. Back home, I am too full liao so only had a corn as dinner...

Confirm no good food liao!!!

26 Aug 2009
6.00 am - Noticed some watery discharge, not sure if its water leakage
6.10 am - Noticed the discharge again
6.30 am - Nick woke up for work and I told him that I confirmed not going to work today, cos not sure if its TODAY!
6.45 am - Called the hospital hotline to check if I am leaking water, the nurse was unsure and requested that I go hospital for a check.. but I am a bit reluctant.. so the nurse mentioned will call me back.

7.00 am - Hospital called back saying they have checked with Doc Watt and requested that I go to the hospital to do a CTG scan but don't admit myself. I decided to have breakfast and bath. Nick called back office to apply leave.

8.30 am - We reached the hospital labour ward and surprised to see many of the labour wards were occupied. There are total of 7 labour wards and usually only 1 or 2 are occupied. I was asked to go into ward 5 ... and I saw my doc name on the room... hmmmm... I was surprised to see Doc Watt coming in too as I wasn't expecting her. She suggested that she will do a VE Check since she is around

8.45 am - Doc Watt did the check and she said I am already dilating and she is going to break my water bag... just as I am trying to catch it, the bag burst and hot gush of water came out.. I knew it that Charlotte is coming out within the next 12 hours. Nick was still asking me if its today! Hahha

9.00 am - The nurse changed me and Doc Watt said that BB expected to arrive by evening time. I asked her when can I ask for epi. She asked the nurse to check the epi Doc schedule and  she left. I was given a whole stack of paper to sign and I din really read, just keep signing... Hahaha... I could start to feel the contraction as the IV drip kicked in. It was still bearable and Nick see the CTG scan and he could see the contraction graph too. The nurse say that I cannot take food. I started to regret not eating the Big breakfast that Nick had suggested earlier on. But I guess I am more anxious to see Charlotte.

Nick went to do the admission, I started to message the gers that I am in the labour ward. The gers were still commenting that I can still msg...hahha... They were also caught off guard. I called ps and ask her when she start taking the epi and stuff during her labour, last min revision...hahhaa

The nurse suggested that I can ask for the epi when the pain kick in but give them 30 min allowance for Doc to arrive.

10.30 am - Nick started reading the notes from the antenatal class and I asked him to to go have lunch cos not sure what time the action will come. I could still manage the contraction. We also talk to BB to ask her jia you! Cos every contraction means she is moving deeper into the canal.

11.00 am - I started to worry that Doc might go for lunch and what if he goes for long lunch and come back like 2pm. I ask the nurse if doc will be going for lunch. She laughed at me and replied that Doc will of course go for lunch.

11.15 am - I requested the nurse to ask for the epi doc. The nurse came back with all the green cloth and stuffs. She mentioned that this epi doc talk very fast and just ask him if anything unsure. I asked the nurse how far apart is my contraction, she mentioned every 2.5 min and it shocked me. I was expecting like every 5 min apart to ask for epi. I ask the nurse if this is going to get shorter, she said it will get more intense. I am glad I ask for epi. All these while I am on sms with WS.

11.45 am - Nick came back and the doc also arrived. He asked Nick to wait outside the room. The doc started his procedure and I could feel the contraction coming quite strong already. He asked me not to move but the 1st prick I squeeze and he ask me to stay still. The epi injection is not painful but can feel he was trying to find the "space". After the epi, the nurse did a VE and mentioned that I was already 5 cm. I was shocked!

12.00 pm - I could still feel the contraction and the doc mentioned that it might take 20 min for the effect to kick in. I din experience what other ppl say "miracle medicine of epi". My legs are still moveable. The doc say he cant increase the dosage as my pressure is dropping. I asked Nick constantly to see the baby heartbeat from the ctg.

The contraction came very quick and it was getting very intense! I was trying to breath in and puffed really hard to overcome each contraction... I asked Nick how come the epi haven take effect. I keep asking him if its 20 min from the injection. I grabbed really hard on Nick's hand to overcome each contraction. He started reading the notes of 2nd stage of labour to me... I asked him dun talk when the contraction come cos I need to concentration.

The nurse came again at dun know what time to do the check again. This time she mentioned 8 cm. Nick was delighted... I tell him dun be too happy cos I heard before some ppl got stuck at certain stage.

Doc Watt came back and did the check and she said I am ready to push! I wasn't much understand the words as I am trying hard to concentration on my contraction. She left and the midwife came in to remove the lower part of the bed and prepared for leg stand and stuff... during this process, she was on and off the hp, quarreling with people about some error in setting up a premium room. I was damm pissed but I couldn't find the time to scold her cos my contraction seems to come like every half min.

I was grabbing Nick very strongly as he encouraged me to push and counting 1 to 10... I dared not push as I rem that if pushing at the wrong time will cause serious tearing.

Doc Watt came in again and mentioned that I can pushed already and she said the nurse will help me and they are really good at it. A small petite nurse ask me to push and count 1 to 10 but my breath keep leaking and couldn't hold till 10. She said I am pushing the wrong place and I am pushing all over my face and I could get a headache. She asked Nick to push my right leg as she pushed my left. I requested to sit more upright.

Doc Watt came in again, and she showed Nick the baby hair... I thought I was near... but nope.. she said its only 5 cent now and she need 50 cents... I was trying very hard to concentration where to push... she asked me to imagine that its like forcing your shit out...

1.15 pm - Start of 2nd stage of labour. Doc Watt trying to pull the baby, 1 nurse on the left whose body keep rubbing the IV drip on my left hand, causing me very hard to concentrate and blood back flow. I was also "leaking breath" and could not not hold my breath till 10 count to push. Nick was on my right encouraging and counting the push.. I could hear Nick voice and counting... and I tried to concentrate every hard for every push! I was pushing until very pek chek liao...Doc Watt ask the nurse on my left to assist pushing my tummy but it din work. She asked the nurse to get another nurse in. This time round, I meet my "Gui Ren" cos she is very experienced. She used her hand to feel my tummy and she is able to tell when the contraction reached its peak and asked me to push only during the peak. She also assisted to push my tummy when I was trying all my might to push. I get a little bit worried when Doc Watt say its getting a bit long and I need to push baby out in the next contraction... I tried all my might. Doc Watt said its very near and I really need to push her out in the next contraction.... I was worried that might need assisted.. so I gathered all my strength and in 1 breath to PUSH!

Doc Watt asked me to slow down... she say baby's head out! I give another gentle left over push and Baby Charlotte is out!!! They put her on my tummy while the nurses used a tube to suck her nose and mouth. She was crying in all her might. The feeling is overwhelming! I din cry during the contraction nor pushing process, except uncontrolled tears of pain... But when baby Charlotte was put on my tummy, I was tearing in joy... its very hard to describe that feeling... its like a life has began and it create a totally new meaning to life.... I was tearing and looking at Nick keep repeating Charlotte is here! Nick was very joyful and almost forget to take picture. He quickly bring out the camera. Charlotte is being brought to a transparent box to finish the check process. The nurse tell Nick that he can go over to take picture.

The stage 2 pushing process took about 1 and a half hour. I din realized it was this long... Doc Watt started to work "down there" and I tried not to see. I saw her removing the placenta and she started the cleaning and stitching. I could feel some pain and she asked the nurse to on the epi again. The nurse mentioned its the highest 12 mg. I asked if just now was the same and she replied yes. I was still trying to figure out how come the epi din take effect on me. I tried not to see what Doc Watt was doing and I keep looking at Charlotte. The nurse ask me to check the tag which has my name and they put both tag on Charlotte's little legs.

3.30 pm - Doc Watt is done, baby Charlotte cleaned and placed on my chest. The nurse asked if I want to breastfeed now or they can bring her to bath and clean up. I choose to let them bring her to clean up. The nurse ask us to wait for the drip to finish before I can go to the normal ward. Meanwhile, we took our 1st family photo! and the 1st photo of baby Charlotte!

4.00 pm - Charlotte was taken to the nursery and I was push to normal ward. The epi took effect... both my legs were numbed and my lower half body cant move at all. The nurse say it might be a good thing cos then I wont feel the pain of the stitches. Indeed I din feel anything. Back in the normal ward, I was still feeling good and awake. I started to message the girls and call our parents. At about 6 plus, I message my colleagues and I bet there must be commotion in the office cos its near KO hour. I mms Charlotte's 1st photo to one of them.

That evening my colleagues say the photo was on mass email...hahhahhaa...

It is a very different experience of life and I am glad I am able to deliver my girl in the natural way, awake, welcome her arrival and experience the joy of life!
Presenting our Baby Charlotte 

Diary of Little NJ - The waiting game begin

I am on a weekly schedule, yesterday afternoon is my week 37 visit. I am now into week 38 liao. My appointment is in the noon time, so I only took half day off. In the morning, I went to Suntec for an event. Out of no reason, I started breaking out in cold sweat profusely... I went to the toilet to wipe my sweat and realized that I am like sweating my whole back, front and head... I got worried.... I told my colleagues I will leave the place 1st.

I went to the food republic to get a hot soya milk drink and feel slightly better then took a cab back to office. I take a short rest outside the office (non aircon) and took off my binder belt... I can feel Little NJ moving so it was quite assuring. I am still thinking if I should go to the hospital straight. I suddenly feel a sharp pain at one spot of my tummy... but it goes off in a while... My mind start to imagine things like perhaps I should go to hospital straight then maybe can go labour liao then call Nick to go home take bag...kekekek I think I want to go on labour think until siao liao...

As I was feeling better after the rest, I went back to office and the cold sweat is gone. I was telling PS on msn that I hope that doc watt visit later on tell me "Yes! U can go labour liao!" Kekekekeke....
Nick came and we went for lunch and visited Doc watt at the scheduled timing. She is also unsure why I would break out in sudden cold sweat. She decided to do a CTG cos I mentioned that I experienced sharp pain. She did the usual scan, Little NJ is 2.7kg now... 200gm more from last week and as usual we see the powerful "无影脚"... We also saw her face and Nick commented that her lips look like his! *faint faint. Even the nurse laugh at him.

Doc Watt say from the scan, she dun think BB is ready to come out. Nick ask if this Sat is possible??? Doc Watt say if already dilate then can consider go into labour. Nick ask "By force ar"... Doc Watt say can break water bag to start the contraction. She did a V check, a bit painful... she say only 1 cm dilate... ask us to wait for 1 more week... but she say U never know, maybe tomorrow or Sat water bag burst or contraction...

We went into a room to do the CTG, doc watt say the result is good. So we need not worry. She ask why we wanted this Sat... she can can induce... but I say no lar, we will wait for Little NJ to come out on her own... we will continue to physco her...kekekke... As the CTG need 30 minutes... we just bo liao and keep talking to Little NJ to see the response on the machine.. there are times it jump from 130, 150 to 170! She even move and hump..But that was initial... after a few try, we talk again, sing song, she cant be bothered with us liao... the heartbeat remain constant. Kekeke... she must be feeling we are so bo liao...

We make another appointment with Doc Watt on next Thursday... I was hoping I dun have to go for this appointment if Little NJ cooperate with us...kekeke... The nurse told me if within this period of time, I do experience any contraction or water bag burst I should go direct to the labour ward. I ask her how contraction feel like? Isit 1 spot or whole belly... She looked at me in confusion! Kekeke...

She is quite young and I doubt she has a kid yet from her reaction. She turned to her senior nurse who explain to me that it will be the whole stretch and the back as well... sound like a roundabout on the belly... kekekke... she say once I experience like a few times within an hour (like 20 min interval) I can go to the hospital.

We went back and start to physco Little NJ again. I guess she is having too much fun and nice food lately.. So I told her, today eat ice cream, tomorrow eat cake... what else she wanna eat faster tell me, then after eating all the nice food, she should come out liao! Kekekeke...

Reno - Furniture

We went to premier lighting last weekend. It was a shop recommended by our cousin. The price also very "premium" kekekek... din get anything there.. but saw a lighting design which matches the floral laminate of our wardrobe. We went over to DK Lightings and the price is quite reasonable... Din want to make a haste decision. We decided to go back to Chelsea (opp Chinese garden mrt) another day, we have been to Chelsea before and its very near Nick's place.

After the lighting place visit, we went to Compasspoint to try our luck to find the extra 30% discount for the recliner sofa that we are eyeing... kekeke ... some more its National Day mar, hopefully there are some promo loh... To our dismay, the promo piece is another one...

Follow day, which is a public holiday, we join Steven and Sherry to Balestier to see "A lighting.com" trying to see if we can find our lighting... I have seen a few design on their website and find their price very competitive... but when we see the real thing, somehow, we find the items a bit "chiong" lei... din get anything in the end.... we went to AMK and see a few furniture shop like courts and V.hives... cos we wanted to find dinning chair also... saw a few nice ones on v.hives website but again real thing look very different....


On Thursday, we went back to Jurong and visited Chelsea. Guess both Nick and myself are a bit tired as well... we decided to just get all our lighting from Chelsea. Their prices wasn't the best but I guess consider reasonable ba. I actually wanted to get a nicer light (like some hanging kind) for our MBR... saw 1 that I really like and it has dangling crystals (I doubt its crystal but the boss claim it is), the light cost 400+ way bursting our budgets! Nick suggest that we settle for something within our budget next time got more budget then change loh... We settled all our lights within the 800+ range, installation cost separately. Lighting to be delivered in 1plus month time.

On Friday I saw on forum recommending 2 shops which sell dinning chair. I saw on website a piece of acrylic chair which is not bad. The pricing for both shop diff about 40 bucks.
That evening, we went to www.comfortfurniture.com.sg (recommended in forum) to see if we can find the dinning chair... the other shop closed at 5pm while this shop closed at 7pm. I wanted a steel light kind to match the dinning table. The shop was closed at 6pm but we manage to walk around as one of the logistic lady still around. The lady suggest we come back again on Sat.

On Sat, Nick went back to school and he was released earlier than scheduled so we decided to go back to comfortfurniture again. But pior to that we went to Gnee Hong Furniture (www.ehongfurniture.com) which was also recommended in forum. Gnee Hong is a warehouse kind of place... the chair not cheap also...unless the offer piece. The one they having offer now is only 40+ and its the same chair we saw at IFC selling 100+ over... We tried on the chair but the backing is very weak.. a bit flimsy.

We saw one with "leather" and steel leg for $109... I rem I saw a similar piece at comfortfurniture on offer at $69+... decided to go Comfortfurniture...

When we reach there, no one serve us... then we saw a salesman and he kinda bo chap us also... We wanted to get the offer piece which is red cover and steel legs.. usual price 200+ now at $69. He say no more stock already... only left 1 piece. Then I saw another piece which look the same. He say its a diff model, thou it look the same. When I ask him for pricing, he say same price at $69, but 1 piece only... I dun mind get these 2 pieces but he like bui song to sell us. He purposely say these are 2nd hand piece... I say you mean showroom piece rite... he reply "Yes, so its 2nd hand loh" I got a bit pissed off by his attitude... I guess atas places like this only serve ppl who are well-dressed... Because as usual me and Nick is in our most Lok Kok and nuai nuai image. He give me a feeling that he is trying to say "aiya u guys cant afford"... Nick suggest we look at other pieces of chair... but I bui song liao...  

I like in particular 1 egg shape kind of chair they have... but bui song to neg or ask.. It cost abt 200. Not sure where else have this design for half its price? :P Kekekek....

We went to Milemium walk, cos harvey normal flagship store is there... We spend less than 15 min there. Because the price is enough to KILL... scary loh... din know harvey norman de flagship store got such a killer pricing! Nick say if we went to Milemium walk before we went to Gnee Hong, we would have just bought our chair in Gnee Hong liao... Kekekeke..

Nick suggest that we go buy the cheap cheap stools from neighbourhood area or see got cheaper alternative from Ikea... he feel no point we spend like 100 per piece on something we dun really like and next time wanna change also heartpain. We decide to just KIV the dinning chair.
We went to Compasspoint trying to see if we can grab the additional 30% discount... thou I am not too hopeful cos it wasnt any PH... but we can go gain city to see aircon also.

As we are approaching the seahorse store, I saw the promo sofa for last week decrease (cost more now)... I wasn't too hopeful liao... But Nick was eying the recliner price tag and he tell me "有希望"!!! Cos there is an additional piece of paper! I saw!!!! Extra 30% discount!!!! "Mai tan liao" I shouted in glee!!! Heheheh... But Nick was acting Cool wor... he slowly sit down and tell me "Ai zai, test test 1st lar"... I say him, "Eh dun try to hide your joy lar!... quick go and place order" He reply" Confirm ar, see see 1st lar" Kekekke... Gei siao loh.... I can sense he is just trying to cover up his joy loh... :P

After we try on again on the recliner and he approach the sale lady... I told him the snobbish one not in today... kekeke so really our day... cos there is is snobbish sale lady whom I approach every week (for the past 3 times) to ask when the discount would be... she always like bo chap.... We got this lady whom we never see before to place the order. She tell Nick frankly that its not full leather thou it state Italy real leather. The front part is real leather but behind is PVC. At least she is frank. Seriously I dun expect real leather for this kind of price...Kekekke...  When Nick ask her what if we notice defects when receiving, she say call customer service... kinda made me worried... cos usually when one ask about defect, the usual reply should be "no problem one, if got problem then call ..." but she is immediately tell us where is the number to call. Nick say Seahorse quite established so he not so worried. I took a photo with Nick's hp but din realise the picture was not taken as his hp memory is full..hahhaha... next round got pass by then take again ba.

We finally got the recliner sofa... thou the search for dinning chair experience is bad but the day end with a sweet "victory" of the sofa we long awaiting for. Kekekke....

Reno - Contractor confirmed

We din really get a lot of quotations for the reno. We sourced about 5, 2 from IMM which is very casual and we wanted quite a numbers of items back then... like customized shoe cabinet and dinning table... All quotations come back about 10 over Ks... We also ask at classic kitchen which we find the price quite ok... but din sign up.

Our neighbor is using a contractor who has several project in the estate we stayed. We saw a few showrooms as well, got ID firm like Baroque, orange cube... we find the package from the contractor our neighbor used quite competitive... package deal of about 12k. Can exchange items such as they provide wardrobes for 3 bedrooms so if we only want for MBR then we can exchange the rest of the 2 for other stuffs. We neg and compare the package deal and "ala cart menu"... work out about the same price... I find that we might end up signing more than we need due to the package price... and moreover a lot of stuff not in the package... like piping work and stuffs... might end up a cost of 16k... which is way beyond our budget...

We drag on and din really go and look for contractor... I saw a few quotation on forum which forum-er share and realize that it is really hard to compare and these reno contractor tend to quote u higher for some stuff and give u discount for others... what you see so call the cheapest item might not be the best due to quality or the cost has been transfer to another items.

In order to cut cost and to manage within our means, we decided that we shall just reno on the basic, to have the kitchen up and a wardrobe plus a conceal beam (the position where we wanted our bedhead to be has a exposed beam). Keeping this as a guide, we decided to first meet up with my another neighbor's contractor. I-Pro Design.

The first meet up turn out to be good and we are quite comfortable with her. Her quotation is also quite competitive. Her set up is very small, she is a ID and her HB is a carpenter. We feel that since we are doing very little reno, it shouldn't be an issue. After our 2nd meet up to neg on quotation and see some catalog. I saw some disputes she had online with one of the forum-er... I ask another forum-er in private on her experience with the lady (she also use the same person) and her feedback was quite good. We decided to proceed with I-PRO since our few engagement with her was quite good.

The main bulk of our cost goes to the kitchen... she din give us any freebies like cooker and stuff which usually package deal will give. Her quotation for the kitchen cabinets is not on the cheap side also... but she promise on the quality... Hmmm... but on the other hand, I find her other items is quite reasonable... so give and take... Some of her items like electrical work is quite x. So I think of ways how not to shift the switch... hahah and she has been quite accommodating... We decided to sign up with her.

Our reno items with I-PRO includes the kitchen cabinets, wardrobe, half height conceal wall and grills and window for service yard, which is around 8k.

Bedroom
We wanted a full box-up of the wardrobe and the beam. But we would be charged for shifting the existing lighting points. In the end we decided to change the design so that the points will not be shifted.
We decided to have a hole cut out on the wardrobe and do a half height conceal for the beam. We have choosen a synetic black leather for the box-up. White laminate for the wardrobe frame and a floral black laminate for the slides.

Kitchen
I wanted to reno just 1 side for full top and bottom cabinet... but after some calculations, we do not have enough table space. Our contractor suggest we do both sides.

Initially I wanted the color theme like alternate brown and white... But drop the idea as our kitchen is really small. We decided to go for white with small leaves design on top row and bottom row with bronze-like laminate. 

Reno - Change of theme

Still remember the cuckoo clock we got from Switzerland.... hahahha...  We have some ideas of a "woody" and "neutral" color tone for our new place. Have been having this thoughts of a wooden dinning set with bench and at the side of the wall will be this cuckoo clock... And in order to match these, we will have a wooden with cushion sofa, wooden coffee table ....

About 2 yrs back, We saw a module system made of wood and can even customize a tea table and a small pond! Very X...

Last year we saw a package deal at Red Apple (IMM) which consist of sofa, coffee table, dinning set and TV console which is very attractive and matches the theme we wanted. Almost sign the deal but because the sales guy told me he can do drawing (cos the shop provide customization) I wasn't quite convince by his "stick drawing" so we put on hold from placing our order. Back home, I check about Red apple on renotalk and shocking to know how bad their review was... some even call them "rotten apple" Oh gosh! Heng din buy from them.

We went to a few more places like Nova, our favorite Ikea, dilemma over should get those extendable dinning table... I wanted woody feel. By far, my favorite is the the cushioned bench at Lorenzo, got with backing and without backing cost about 300. We have been keeping that in our list of "wanted".

Times passes and though we always wanted a recliner seat but find that its relatively out of budget... and we thought of cutting cost by using our sofa bed which we got from ikea 2 yrs back as wedding bed (at that point of time, we already have the idea of using it as sofa for new place) so have been looking at theme to accommodate the blue sofa

Lately the antenatal class we went keep showing us picture of a preggy sitting so comfortably on a single recliner arm sofa... then they show breastfeeding picture...again is the recliner seat! I have been suffering from backache lately... How I wish I have a recliner seat in my bedroom and on aircon!!!!! Kekeke... Nick say we can buy 1 now but my bedroom bo space le... hmmmm

Just as we are walking around at Compasspoint after one of my prenatal check up, we saw Seahorse has a recliner seat and it is so comfy!!! They everyday also 50% discount one... then it was on further 30%!!!! Nick very tempted to buy... But cant put in my bedroom now... he suggest for new place loh... But I want to enjoy now lei.... soooooo bad..... He was very tempted to buy liao... but sofa wasn't in our budget... and seahorse always on offer one... kekek... so we went off....

The following week, we went to IMM to look at furniture.. cos Nick on school holiday so we thought of settling most of the reno stuff asap... we more or less confirmed or contractor so its time to look for TV console and dinning set... Nothing caught our eyes at IMM... then we went to Celini... Nick was still thinking about the seahorse sofa... Kekeke... So we decided that we shall get the sofa... hmmm its half leather so that mean we got to change our theme to more "modern"...kekke... we went to IFC and saw a "black piano laminate" TV console! Match the sofa....we bargain very hard for the price and end up buying a matching round dinner table also... hahhaha

Just before we placed our order, Nick still ask me "eh any bad remark about this shop "winter international" bo?"... I am unsure lei... we still went ahead and placed our order. I quickly check on renotalk upon reaching home and to my horror! They are sister/brother companies to Red apple... *faint faint... There are both good and bad remarks.... But apparently beside this shop under red apple, La cafe, mode something one also under the same boss as red apple... damm terrible loh, all different names... some even comment that they are out to cheat people. Nick say seems like we cant run from the clutches of red apple! Cos 2 yrs back we din buy from them, now we buy from their sister/brother... We can only hope for the best! We will be receiving our furniture in early Oct... cos they are made in China and take time for shipping.

The following day, we went back to Compasspoint... going to place order on the black recliner sofa and to our horror, the promotion is over!!!!! *faint faint faint! U can imagine the priceless expression on our faces!

Diary of Little NJ - Approaching seeing her

I m into week 37 as I am typing this! Kekekek... Cant wait to see any sign of labour :P hehehe... Hoping that she come out soon!!!

Now I am into weekly schedule to see Doc Watt, I hope I only need to see her just 1 more time and we can carry and touch Little NJ in skin! Hehehhe... We have been talking to Little NJ everyday and counting down to our "expected" date... as in the date we hope she come out

Went for my week 36 scan last Thursday. As I am on a shorter schedule to visit Doc now, only managed to book the Raffles Hospital schedule in the noon time.

Nick did not go with me due to work. I also ask him to save his leave cos he is running out of leave also... need them when Little NJ is out...kekek..

Doc Watt ask if I am experiencing any contraction... I only reply that there are tightness at times... She say we will not stop Little NJ from popping even in week 36...kekke... She comment that my tummy "look" a but small... which I dun feel so lei... to me its like very round and big lei... :P She did the scan and say baby is growing well cos she is now 2.5kg! I ask Doc Watt if this is ok? She say this is the weight she wanted... hmmm she can control??? Kekekke I think she din want a big baby too... While she scan I can see Little NJ face clearer! The machine at Raffles Hospital seems like clearer lei...Kekeke... Doc Watt commented that bb is smiling! Which I cant really figure out...

Back home, I show Nick the scan photo... the 1st thing he ask me was, Little NJ smiling? I was taken by surprise! Cos I never tell him and from our previous few scan we never see Little NJ smiling, instead the previous scan Doc Watt say baby look a bit grumpy. I was thinking can see from the scan she smiling meh!!!! Nick say he just feel that Little NJ is smiling... hmmm father and daughter connection???? Dun know how to explain the coincidence, cos the photo taken in the scan wasnt the one that Doc Watt say she saw baby smiling lei...

Lately Little NJ's movement can be very distinct and I can feel the slightest movement, I guess its because she is bigger and not much space liao.... And she likes to "move" up to my chest and ribcage esp when I am lying down...I guess it is either one of her leg or her backside..kekek... I will press my arm against my ribcage to prevent her from moving up..I can feel the pressure against her movement when I do that... Nick say I very "zer ark"! He say imagine someone tied my legs (he physically hold my 2 legs together) and dun let me move... Then I tell him "eh she stretch then I xin ku lei" Kekeke... cos sometimes she move so high up till my ribcage pain... Got a few times, Nick place the speaker with classical music below my tummy hoping that she will stay "low"... but we realize sometimes we "disturb" her too much with music, I will have a restless night cos she seems to be "awake" throughout the nite!

My backache is getting worse also... now I cant sleep on side cos seems to be pressing on her, then I cant sleep on my back cos after a while my back start to ache... so can imagine I am tossing and turning, sitting up and down throughout the nite!

We are scheduled for another visit next Thur and again no more slot at compass so have to go Raffles Hospital. Hopefully Little NJ show sign of popping. Kekekkeke.

My pail is suddenly empty

Of no reasons and freaky... just 3 days over the long weekends... my boss like suddenly wake up! On Friday afternoon I was still happily typing my handover list, (happily as in I intend to hack care and throw the list when I go on ML suddenly), the more I type, the more I wanted to sing auld lang sai for my colleagues :P

This morning of no symptoms, she ask me to update her on my handover by today! I was like errrr... so damm freaky loh.... or she catch signal that I am going to hack care and "fang sheng"...hahhahaha But as usual, she wants me to finish my newly appointed task within like 2 weeks??? Cos she say before I go on ML....

This late noon, I ask her if she is ready to discuss on the project and my handover... surprisingly she is so damm ready! (usually she will push and delay) Then she say she wants to do handover 1st.... hmmm... within 1 hour, she task out my duties based on the lists I provided her! Hahahha.... As for the new project, she hope that I can take it as far as possible.... but I tell her I will try... cos no guarantee mar, cos the ball dun lies in our court, we are also waiting for the involving party to revert...

Suddenly she like wake up over the weekend and clear my pail! Nonetheless its a good news cos at least suddenly I feel that the load is much lighter now.... hehehhee...She even think for me what I should put for out of office msg liao.....

The pail will never be empty

Try working for a woman boss who is totally forgetful (worse than ram) and one who just refuse to listen, feeling less.... I guess many would say my job is like with the highest job security, no doubt in such an organization it is lar. When I see in forum and hear of how preggy mums got funny action from their bosses and company... I am glad I am in such an organization... BUT nothing is perfect... the place I am in consist of mainly younger generations so cant expect them to understand what you are going through.... Sometimes I feel that my previous work place might be a better environment during preggy as the colleagues are mostly aunties with lots of empathy... and lots of advises (if u dun take it as naggy)... hahhaa

From the start of my preggy, I never had an easy time with my work and my boss... She is a married woman with no kids... and many times I really ganna those kind of unfeeling remarks... I try my best not to take leave during the 1st trimester despite I am so green from my MS. There was once I really black out at the MRT but because I was already on 2 days mc so I feel bad so I struggle my way to work... She ask if I am ok. Sound like SOP question. When I told her about my black out, I am hoping to hear, "Why dun u go back and rest"  But what come out of her mouth is "U can go sick bay if you are not feeling well" Woh kao!

Then when I took mc, she will msg me to ask when I will be back... at times she even ask why u not in office??? din I tell u I am on MC??? haiz... during my 2nd trimester, I chiong all the way for my work. My work place is damm KPI driven. We have target to meet for 1 year mark... so I push all my work that need to be completed by July... cos I just hope that Aug will be a "sing lang" month... So imagine squeeze all my tasks (for 1 yr) into a 6 months time, also on the basis I din want to "duan" whoever is left behind to handle my shit...

Finally come July, Aug where I have completed my schedule... BUT!!! now I know what is it like for a shit pail! When u empty it, it will be refilled!!!! There are a few new projects coming in... dun know is it she see I eng or she really see me very "Upz" with the big tummy... She throw me the tasks which dun think can be completed within 3 months... I even suggest that I can still take the role but hope that she get in another person to be in the loop for "just in case" Guess what was her respond... she say U will only go on leave in Sept/Oct rite... I guess she is those kind of ignorant female boss who think baby will come out zun zun as your gynea predict (EDD)... and the worse thing is she keep forgetting my EDD.... and keep asking!

Never mind... so I just take on and rush train to do loh... just as I was finishing what I have in hand... she suddenly see me very "Upz" again wor... something that we have been pushing since Jan, she keep delaying and I thought it wont happen liao suddenly come into her mind... Out of nowhere, she wants to rush a project (expected 6 months to complete) to start now!!!! I was like "hey within a month how much can I do???" plus Why I push all my tasks to complete before Aug is because I want a more relax Aug... It just so demoralizing... The best is when she ask me "when u going on leave huh" I say "Sept ba... such thing I cannot choose one" and she glare her eyes at me and ask me "then this project HOW???" Huh!!!! What you mean by HOW???? I feel like asking her if she just realize that my tummy grow overnight!!!! This project has been pending since Jan... and You wanna push it now, U ask me HOW??? Like become my fault that I am going on maternity soon???

I m feeling so demoralize because I feel that my effort to clear my work is not been appreciated... I could have jolly well just follow the flow and leave the undone tasks aside cos it my entitlement to go on maternity leave... But I thought it would only be responsible for me to clear my tasks so that the rest do not take on more when I am on leave... But Well Well Well.... the pail is never empty... when u try your best to clear your pail... someone will happily refilled it back... scare u have no sai to eat!!!
I think our Asian thinking and environment will never be able to promote child bearing... How can one tan han this kind of nonsense. When we go on maternity leave we are also losing out on our benefits in term of social competitiveness and work competitiveness. I am very sure my year end review will be a lousy one cos I am like 16 weeks away from work... I am also very sure they will give me a "just meet target" review cos they can always say "There are 16 weeks u are away!!!!"

Now I am so pissed and thinking since I will only be a meet target or perhaps below target why should I be so ONz to meet my 1 year KPI??? Stupid me... worse still the more work I clear, the more work come it... Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Diary of Little NJ - Part 4

Moving into week 32!!! to be exact I am into week 35 as I am typing this...

Whoever step on my tail is really suay now... cos I will just let off "steam" without warning... kekekek.... I also dun know why... maybe too much pressure at work... I am trying to clear as much tasks as possible so that I can "rest" in August but it like seems like 1 pile of work done, another pile come in... non stop one. I decided to give up liao... if I just pop suddenly I am going to hack care of the bad logs at work...

Went to my week 32 visit and I complain to doc watt that I am feeling very strong kick at the pelvic joint bone. She did a scan and we saw a "无影脚"! No wonder lar...

Then doc watt comment that Little NJ look quite grumpy... hahha I say because we "disturb" her on our way to the clinic. :P

Nick loh, he say he wants to see Little NJ moving during the scan... but on our way to the clinic she wasn't moving a lot... so we try to wake her by rubbing and poking the tummy! :P .. Doc watt is generally happy about the weight gain of Little NJ... Me also gain some weight but under control. Happy...kekeke!

Back home, Nick is trying to figure out how does the leg and head can be so near... so I try to demo the position..hahha he stop me from doing so.

Week 34 ... now into twice visit monthly ... I am a bit shocked by my weight gain. I gain about 1.6kg over 2 weeks span! Doc watt give me this "eyes shoot out" look! She say I got a bit of water retention... then she say "Let look at how much goes to u!"

Faint loh... I was feeling some powerful "knobs" around chest area lately so I ask doc watt to scan and we saw "五指山" this time round...hahha and on the other side is "无影脚"! The other "无影脚" is still near the pelvic joint bone. Nick is trying to figure out Little NJ position. This time round is even harder to visualize! Doc watt say baby very flexible one.. majum like doing yoga inside one. Hahaha... Sometimes I feel like a "fist" on the upper tummy, I thought the hand is like clench like a fist but after this scan, we think the fist might be her elbow or knee.

At time she can move quite vigorously and it can be quite painful so I will "ouch" and "ouch" trying to tell her to be more gentle. hahha... Nick sometimes will "scold" her... then I say u better talk to her nicely cos she is a "cow" "吃软不吃硬" one.

Antenna Class II

Went for lesson 3 and lesson 4 of antenna classes... teaches labour breathing techniques... I cant really rem what she say... I told Nick to rem... I am too lazy...

After hearing the speaker explaining the different stages of labour and how long apart the contractions are and how to manage them... I think epi is the way to go... how to practice those breathing when one cant even rem them???? hahaha... so many things to rem... very tough... I think with epi, just have to rem the technique of pushing... hmmm... I really dun feel like thinking about it... I think I will just take things when it comes.... :P

During the 4th lesson, a hospital tour is included... bring us go see labour ward and the beds and stuff... the labour ward look scary loh... ok... try not to think about it... seriously I prefer not to see man.... looking at the equipments and imagining the process send shiver man.

Yesterday lesson is on breastfeeding... damm long winded and loh soh ... hahhaha... show different size and shape of breast! (drawing not real pict) hahhaha... morale of the story is all mums can have milk to provide the young... the rest of the class... I think I am yawning away... :P

Lately I am damm tired and my appetite also weird weird... I tend to eat a lot of chocolate lately... stress remedy??? not sure... feeling very clumsy and mood less also... Ya and very scare of tummy strain! Cos that day I was playing a fool by shaking my body front and back... when I lean back, I saw something protruding out in the middle! I rem the antenna class the speaker say our tummy muscle is being split open for the growth of the womb... Oh shit then I realize when I stretch I am seeing my womb in-between the gap! After a few times of doing it, I actually feel a strain in the tummy!!!... nowadays I dun dare to do this act anymore... whenever I am free, I use both hand to "close" my tummy (pushing both side towards the center) I think I am siao... but I really feel that the tummy muscle like split open lei...

The speaker say even after delivery the muscle will not close immediately and if wanna know how big is the gap, can use fingers and press down at the belly button, the "sink" in part is the gap! Sound damm scary sia... no wonder a lot of ppl are wearing a bind after delivery... to prevent the gap from getting bigger and bigger! And she say, the "relaxing" that loosen the joint will be still there till 6 months after delivery... so must be careful not to strain muscle and joint... Woh bang sound like body damm loosen like that...

ok... try not to think about it... hahha... can sleep jiu sleep, can eat jiu eat...
Little NJ is kicking and moving a lot lately... sometimes I cant sit or lie still cos she is having so much "fun" inside... at time I even "scold" her say "Ger, U having fun hor" hahhaha... At times it get a bit painful I will also tell her to be more gentle... "U are a ger ger lei... pls be more gentle k" :P hahhaha... Got a few times, I cannot tan han, I took video clip as "evidence"! Next time can show her! :P

Lately we can see her movements more distinctively... sometimes she burps too.... then after I drink water, the burps goes away... amazing rite...hahha... Sometimes she has too much fun moving around, but I am too tired so I just sleep my way through while she having fun...so can imagine I am lying very still sleeping and my tummy is moving up and down. Very sleepy cos every night have to wake up at least 1 time to release water... cant sleep at the side too cos she violently object... I am so looking forward to the day I can sleep on my side and on my tummy! hahhaha :P

Antenatal education

胎教

Some people do it through listening to classical music, talking to bb in tummy... I think there are tons of methods... I am very lazy not really doing it...hahhaha...But I have my own method of "胎教"... I read from some books that baby in tummy can "taste" and "smell" from week 24 onwards....

Lately Nick keep saying I din eat durian... keep physco me to eat... I say Little NJ dun like lar... he say maybe she like lei... Then I will sayang my tummy and say "We dun eat durian k, cos eat liao u will be smelly de...kekekeke.. U come out then u eat with daddy loh..." Then there was once Nick was eating durian, he say I should not deprive Little NJ of tasting... I smell the durian... no effect.. she wasn't reacting... this is what I call effective "胎教".... :P Usually if I am near some food she likes, there will be reaction... for example sweet stuff like ice cream and cakes will generate some kicks... she likes curry also... hahaha...

A lot of people say during preggy, the mum should not be angered or stressed... I beg to defer...hahhaha... I believe my girl will be very good in handling stress and anger, cos she has been practicing since in mummy tummy :P.... whenever I was stressed at work or cursing and swearing at work... she responded too! I am training her... :P Hahahha...

Lately she move in more vigorously... maybe the space is getting limited, can feel more strongly and can see tummy vibrating...hahah... sometimes when she is doing it too strongly I will call out her name in a stern voice and she stop immediately... is this "胎教" also...hahah... next time she naughty I just have to call her name! :P On the other hand, Nick does not have this "power", usually when he talk to her, she move lagi more... maybe his tone and my tone is different.

Reno planning is not an easy task

These few weekends we are occupied with planning our reno stuff... since Nick is having his "school holiday" it would be good for us to do some planning and sourcing to be ready for reno once Little NJ is out! Hahaha...

We have started getting some quotations way back but din really stream down to the items and confirmation. After working out some budget planning lately, we are really working on a super duper tied budget for reno... so got to be careful with our choice and what is really necessary for a start.
Sat, we went to Ikea, wanted to get a set of the kitchen cabinet system so that the contractor can work the size of the cabinet according to the system. Found out that the Ikea kitchen system cannot fit into other cabinet except their own Ikea plastic cabinet. Drop the idea in the end... cos I dun want to get Ikea drawer... kinda disappointed that I cant have a kitchen storage system... the price for a better kitchen system like blum or hatal (cannot rem the spelling) is quite x.... Ikea one is more economical but not really much cheaper and worse still I scare it spoilt easily like their desk and other furniture.
In the end I got some stainless steel bar for installation at the back panel for kitchen, some plate and bowl holder.. chin chye chin chye pick a few, burn 80++ bucks in the pocket.


Last Sunday I saw on newspaper there is a warehouse sales at Loyang for Turbo hood and hob. (http://www.happiness.com.sg/) We went to take a look and in less than 15 min, we settled 1 hood,1 hob and a microwave oven. The microwave oven is for my mum place. The hood and hob is for our new place.

Turbo has one is the smallest hob, measuring 60cm. The hood is abt 73cm... I wanted a small cooker so that I can have a bigger sink! Hahah...

We settled the hob and hood for a total of $450! I guess we save about 50 bucks, cos I saw some forum-er got it at about $500

We went to expo to walk walk see see. The 1st shop we sit down is selling roller blind. Nick has wanted a roller blind compare to curtain after seeing it at his uncle place. I do admit that the roller blind is more sleek and less maintenance. But the price wise is easily 2 times the cost of curtain. The lady start selling the mechanism saying its from Germany so more durable... We sign up for the package in the end with $200 deposit... but haven commit to the no. of panels we will do. Average cost about $600 per room... quite x.. we saw the same material (drape) at another stall, but different mechanism... cost cheaper... I later saw from forum, Ikea has the cheapest roller blind, about $100+ can do for 1 bedroom, but some people comment that the roller "sing age" after a while...but to be fair, also got people say they are ok with the ikea ones as they seldom "roll" up and down.

We walked pass a shop that sell door. I am attracted by the bi-fold door and they state 50% discount! But not exactly 50% I guess... its just some gimmicks....usual price $350, promo price $230 but we did a calculation, the total cost for 3 bedrooms doors (veneer semi-core) with level and 2 bi-fold toilet doors is about the same cost as what our contractor quoted. The contractors quoted us for hard-core laminate door, but she was unsure of the roller for the bi-fold... according to the guy who promo the bi-fold, he showed us 2 type of bi-fold, 1 is both top and bottom on "track" line and the better one is top on "roller" and bottom on "track" which make it easier to open and close. In the end we decided to get the doors from the show, cos the price work out to be around the same...$100 bucks as deposit.
Time to work out the budget sheet again...

Update on kitchen ware

We bought a sink, tap and dish drainer from Royal Fanco as recommended from forum. It's located at 135 Jalan Besar Singapore 208849. Tel : 6299 0543, boss is Henry. We almost cant find the place as I got the wrong address from forum. The forum state unit no 131 which is a ah nei shop :P In the end we manage to saw the shop...hahha

He showed us some very deep sink but Nick say deep sink waste water... not sure where he got this theory... hahha... our kitchen length not very long, about 2300mm so cant have a longish sink. In the end we settle for a Taiwan made brand call Crizto at $185 (size 670mm). It has some anti-condensing function... actually I thought all sink works the same. Henry say some ppl will go for anti-bacteria and stuff... din know got so much function... to me sink is just to wash dishes loh...hahhaha.... We got a more classy tap at $70 as chosen by Nick. To me tap is just a tap loh :P... Nick initially wanted a build-in dish drainer whereby the drainer is fixed to the cabinet and a glass door over it. It will make the kitchen look sleek and neat. The boss say provided we must dry the dishes if not keep inside will have smell... seriously I am not a hardworking person... plus I feel that have to keep opening and closing that cabinet quite lay chy. In the end we got the wall mount kind at $75. As they do not have the stock for the sink on Wed, we picked up the sink on Friday. Henry has the new batch of sink come in "improved" version. The drainer has a basket to hold rubbish...hahhaa...

As we din buy over 400 bucks so din get FOC delivery. We realized he got sell Turbo hood and hob also, got good discount also. Their water heater also quite reasonably priced. Guess we will go back to get the water heater.